emeralds, which has been long supposed to be lost.

The other towns, which are of little importance, are, on the coast, Tumaco, Tola, San Mateo de Esmaraldas, and La Canea; in the interior, Lachas, Cayapas, Inta, Gualxa, Nanegal, Tambillo, Niguas, Cachillacta, Mindo, Yambe, Cocaniguas, Cansa, Coto, Santo Domingo, San Miguel, and Nono.

SECTION XXXIII.

THE GOVERNMENT OF QUIXOS.

THE government of Quixos and Macas is the most easterly of those of Cundinamarca. It is bounded on the north by Popayan and the plains; on the east, by Portuguese Guiana on the west, it is separated from Latacunga and Ibarra by the Cordilleras of Cotopaxi, Cayambe, &c.; and on the south, it is limited by Maynas and Bracamoros.

In Quixos the climate is very hot and moist; the rains are almost continual.

It is covered with thick forests, some of the trees in which are of prodigious magnitude. In the south-west of Quixos is the country called Los Canelos, a sort of spice resembling cinnamon growing there.

The number of regular villages in Quixos are twelve, with numerous missions.

The south part of Quixos is called MACAS, and is separated into a distinct district,. under that appellation, of which the chief town is the city of Macas, or Seville de Oro.

The climate of Macas is better than that of Quixos, as the proximity of the Andes occasions it to be much cooler. The winter there begins in April, and lasts till September: the summer then commences, and the north wind blowing constantly, renders it very mild.

At the conquest, this country was very populous, owing to the quantity of gold drawn from the neighbourhood of Macas.

Among the infinite variety of trees which the forests are composed of, is the storax, distinguished by the exquisite fragrancy of its gum. Great quantities of copal are brought from Macas, as well as wild wax.

The chief occupation of the settlers is the cultivation of tobacco, which is exported to Peru. Sugar-canes thrive very well, as do cotton, grain, &c.

The district contains eight principal villages, and numerous missionary settlements; two priests or superiors governing the spiritual affairs.

The missions of Sucumbios, five in number, also belong to this government.

The independent Indians are still the chief occupiers of Quixos and Macas. Their irrup

tions are frequent and much dreaded; most of them being of a warlike disposition. This prevents these countries from being colonized rapidly. A few Spanish troops, properly ma naged, might, however, soon quell these ple, and reduce them to a state of insignifi

cance.

peo

Quixos and Macas are intersected by the rivers mentioned as flowing into the Marañon through parts of Maynas; but little is known of the state of the country on their banks, as the aborigines are there the sole and undisputed masters.

BAEZA, the capital of Quixos y Macas, is a miserable village of only eight or nine houses, the governor residing always at Archidona.

1. MACAS, the chief town of Macas, lies in 2° 30' south latitude, and 78° 5' west longitude.

Its houses are built of wood, and thatched. The inhabitants, who amount to 1200, are generally Mestizoes or Spaniards.

2. ARCHIDONA is a small place, in 0° 45′ south of the line, and 76° 48′ west longitude. Its houses are of wood with thatched roofs. The inhabitants amount to 700, being a mixture of all casts.

It was almost ruined in 1744, by an explosion of Cotopaxi.

3. AVILA is in 0° 44' south latitude, and 76° 25' west longitude.

Its inhabitants amount to about 300.

SECTION XXXIV.

GOVERNMENT OF JAEN DE BRACAMOROS.

THIS government is bounded on the north by Loja and Quixos y Macas; on the east, by Maynas; on the west, by Piura; and on the south, by Caxamarca or Chacapoyas in Peru. Its southern and western frontiers limit the territories of Peru.

In Jaen the climate is hot, though the rains are not so violent or lasting as in Quixos. The summer is the pleasantest season, as the heat, the rains, and the tempests, abate during that period.

The Pongo de Manseriche, or strait by which the False Marañon passes the Andes, is partly in this district. The embarkation on the Lauricocha, the present name for a river which was, until very lately, supposed to be the Marañon, is usually at Chuchunga, a village of Bracamoros, in 5° 29′ south latitude, four days' journey from Jaen, the river not being navigable nearer than this, on account of the rapids. All the rivers of Jaen flow into the Lauricocha, or descend into the deserts of the Marañon, to join that noble stream on the east.

The rivers of Bracamoros formerly produced a great deal of gold, but no exertions are made to procure the grains at present.

Such parts of this country as are under cultivation are very fertile, but nearly the whole government is covered with forests. The cacao flourishes very much, but owing to the difficulty of carriage, cannot be exported with profit. Tobacco seems peculiar to the soil, as great quantities are produced, which being prepared in a peculiar manner, by soaking the leaves in decoctions of fragrant herbs, acquires so pleasant a taste, that the cigars of Jaen are universally sought after in Peru, Chili, and Quito. Cotton trees are very abundant, and their produce constitutes a great part of the traffic of the inhabitants.

The animals peculiar to the wilds of Jaen are the cougar or puma, the jaguar, and the great black bear of the Andes, which equally inhabits all the mountain regions of Quito. They have also a very large animal called danta, which is as big as an ox: its skin is white, and it has a horn in the middle of its head bending backwards. The woods are abundantly stocked with reptiles and birds.

Its commerce consists in cotton, tobacco, and mules, with which a brisk trade is carried on with the provinces of Peru and Quito, in return for European articles.

The communication by post is carried on down the rivers; and the Indian who carries the letters, wraps them in his dress, which he ties round his head, and with a great knife in